Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Picture Smocking Graph Paper....to share

This summer has been packed with fun with my Grands! The house is quite....too quite....and I need to get busy working through designs that are long overdue.

In doing this, I'm amazed that I was able to get things done twenty years ago in record time that take me FOREVERtoday! That being said, I've had a productive few days working out the "kinks" in the revision of my Cinderella design. Who would have thought that putting Cinderella "in the coach" would be so tricky. I'm not complaining!! Twenty five years ago, all the graphs that I put into my designs were hand drawn. Thankfully, my light table sits alone in the corner of my basement collecting dust.

Bonus is that in the process of "taking a break" from the tediousness of creating the Cinderella graphs with horses and a carriage full of stitches, I made

Picture Smocking Graph Paper

I've used it in the past for small designs....usually the things I do are much too large for a single piece of paper...and decided this was definitely something that I can share. This little sheet of paper also took some time as with my graphs, the "scale" of my individual "cable" stitch was made to create a graph that closely resembles what the actual smocked figure will look like. If you're a smocker and have stitched a variety of different designer's work, you know that no two are alike. I have no explanation for this fact. In fact, I am changing my graphs to combine the color graph and the "numbered graph". Hopefully this will make picture smocking easier.

I, not being too blogging savvy, haven't been able to figure out how to link my pdf.doc of the graph paper to this particular post. Anyone with tips or tricks to share....I would be so thankful for your help. Until then, anyone wanting the pdf download .... just leave your email address and I will send it. The pdf.doc prints quite nice as you can see if you click the photo. I have so much to learn!

I save our newsletter as a pdf and email it as an attachment. I downloaded the free program at dopdf.comIt 'acts' like a printer but instead of printing, you save your files as pdfs and can then attach them to emails. Works like a charm for me! Hope this helps.dgbrock@bellsouth.net

I would love to have a copy of your graph paper. BlueMuses3@aol.com I had a pad of smocking graph paper (which I lost in Hurricane katrina...along with everything else!) I haven't been able to find any since. THANKS!!!

Dear Gwen well first let me say thank you for stopping by to leave a nice comment and for becoming a follower:)I just love meeting new people especially a nice Southern gal! OK so true confessions:...I have always, always wanted to be a "Southern Belle" and have a beautiful southern accent (I actually do it quite well:) and live in the South...and wear a smocked ball gown! OK so its out, I said it:)Anyway I love your blog and adore smocking (wish I had grand girls to dress but my grand boys are still cute:)Again, thank you for stopping I am now your latest follower:)Terry

Hi Gwen, I would love to get your graph paper in pdf. I have not smocked in many years, but want to smock a dress for my granddaughter for Christmas. I actually got to you page via a google search trying to find the website for "Creative Needle". Sadly, I learned that it was no longer published. I have found a few smocking designs on the internet for no money, and ordered a few off e-bay (not here yet though) Your paper would be a big help in planning a design for my dress. Thanks, Cindy cindylucento@hotmail.com

The Nashville Flea market is once a month. If you click over to Layla's post from my blog, you will see the entire schedule & times for the market, so you can definitely go next month if you'd like. It was fun!

This is great! I would love for you to share with me at eelizabeths@hotmail.com.I'm about to begin my first smock with your Alice in Wonderland and I have my fingers crossed for that Cinderella design. We are taking our 18 month old daughter to Disney for the first time in November and I want her to be all decked out :)

I just found this link through google. Please forgive me for not being able to figure things out from the blogs. However, is your Cinderella design available? If so, please let me know where I can purchase it. Thank you.Sharon - ssaltee@gmail.com

I am new to smocking, so I want to do a simple something for Easter. May I have a PDF copy of your graph? shipley7106@comcast.net. Thank you in advance. I am hoping to have matching outfits for my son and my daughter by Easter. Fingers crossed! :)

Gwen,I have loved your designs for years! I've been smocking since 1981 for 4 daughters and now 2 grandsons. I would love to have your smocking graph pdf so I can create my own designs for the boys.Thank you!Alicia in MS

Hi Gwen I just discover your page, and I´m sharing it with my friends who likes smocking too. I love your Alice design since I saw it in the Sew beautiful magazine.I would like to know if you still can send the graph paper? I would love to have it too, I live in Mexico, so, you have a fan in Mexico now! Thank you very much!Gracegrace.flores@hotmail.com

Hi, I've just discovered smocking and would love to have a copy of the smocking graph paper pdf to experiment with. This is so nice of you. I just love your site and wow..if you ever get tired of making designs, that Cinderella cake would get you a job anywhere...You have a lot of talents! sweets53@yahoo.com

Like the MANY people before me, I would love to have a copy of the pdf so that I might design a special design for my granddaughter and grandson. They have special requests and believe their Sunshine (my grandmother name) can do anything with smocking and sewing. Please email it to rsimmo@gmail.com

I am new to smocking and completely addicted. So much fun!! I would love a pdf of your graph paper and your cinderella carriage plate design (for personal use, of course). My email is j_hunsicker@msn.com. thx!!

I just began smocking and am OBSESSED! I would love the PDF of your smocking graph paper, and if you are willing to share, the cinderella carriage plate design as well. Of course for my personal use. My email is victoriamorganlee@gmail.com

Bonjour! I would be very glad to receive your PDF with the graph paper. i love smocking about... 30 years and spend a lot of times at the children hospital, stitching when staying in waiting room with children. ...I had graph paper for 20 years but lost it, and yours seems to be "top".Thanks for all,erminig

Hi Gwen:Beginning to work on dresses for my 2 granddaughters for the holiday seasons. Would love to create my own. I would love to use your graph paper. Is it still available? I hope it is.Thanks Kenleta

Just an update. I now have comment notifications sent to my email. So I have emailed those of you asking for the PDF of the smocking graph paper. If I failed to send it to you, PLEASE, let me know! I hope the email gets to you and the download works.

I just realized that when sending a group email, that some were not going through. If anyone is still interested in the Graph paper pdf, please let me know. I now have email notifications turned on (sorry for that) and can send.

Hi Gwen, We met years ago when you taught a class in Milford, Delaware and stayed at my mother's house while you were in town. I'm back to smocking again for my 5 grandchildren and would love to have your pdf for the graph paper. My email is rollingslynn@aol.com. Thanks in advance and happy New Year!

Hello Gwen,With the birth of our 1st grandchild (a girl), I have started to smock again after a 27 year hiatus.I would love to use your graph paper. I would like to make an inset with shamrocks but have never been able to find a plate. My email address is 2okgrady@gmail.com Thank you in advance. Happy New Year.MaryEllen

Gwen Milner

Some of my Smocking Designs

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Copyright 2009/2010/2011/2012/2013/2014/2015/2016 Smocking with Gwen: The content on these pages, including text and images, are the sole property of the author, and may not be reproduced in any manner without consent. All Rights Reserved. Specifically, there are no commercial manufacturing rights on any designs.

About Me

I'm a Southern girl, 64 years young, who loves my family and home. I am a wife, mother, sister and friend. Born in the Deep South and grew up while traveling with my Air Force husband, Dave. After 29 years, Dave retired from the Air Force and we have settled back in Georgia where we met. I have designed needlework but I really am a wannabe artist. I enjoy music, art, gardening, a “To Do” list that’s never ending and most of all playing with my grandchildren. I often say to Emma and Austin, “How did I get so lucky?” They always answer with the most precious smiles. I have a great respect for our heritage and try in my own little way to keep that Southern thread weaving through our lives.